Law enforcement sales tax will now pay for some positions in Greene County

Nov. 23, 2013

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Latest changes

Back in the 2014 budget are: • Public Wi-Fi on the county campus. Commissioners were concerned that attorneys wouldn’t have access to court documents now that court files are all electronic. • State lobbyist. A federal legislative lobbyist was cut, but the state lobbyist was added back into the 2014 budget. Eliminated in the 2014 budget are:• Two half-time positions in the treasurer’s office. Reducing staff hours in that office by 25 percent. • One part-time position in the recorder’s office. • Half of county administrator’s salary. Will take early retirement and return at a 50 percent reduction. • Two positions in planning and building services. As a result of these cuts, zoning enforcement will be eliminated. • One part-time court security officer. • One administrative clerk position in building operations. • Funding for school crossing guards at a total of $21,000 per year. • $ 77,940 in funding for vaccine immunization program in the Health Department budget. (Individuals and families living outside Springfield needing immunizations for purposes such as entering children in school may be required to pay a fee for this service.) • Community economic development support through the Springfield Business Development Corporation at $39,000. • Memberships and supporting fees for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce ($2,600), National Association of Counties ($6,000), Missouri Association of Counties ($12,200) and Southwest Missouri Council of Governments ($2,500). • Federal legislative support services ($51,000). • Lawn care services for the main county campus. This service will now be provided by inmate work release crews.

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In a move county officials are hailing as creative problem solving and solid collaboration, the county has pulled 19 jobs from the chopping block.

In addition, pay cuts for some department heads, announced just a week ago, are also now no longer needed, and full pay has been restored for all but the county administrator. Tim Smith will take early retirement and return at half pay.

Earlier in this budget cycle, county officials expected as many as 27 jobs to be affected by county budget reductions — either by layoffs, pay cuts or fewer working hours.

By moving some positions into a fund created by the most recently passed countywide law enforcement sales tax, and by making additional cuts elsewhere, the county has restored funding to all but eight positions.

“In a difficult time, you all stepped up,” Presiding Commissioner Jim Viebrock told the room full of county officeholders and department heads Friday morning.

“We’ve all shared in the pain.”

In a closed session Thursday, Sheriff Jim Arnott and Prosecutor Dan Patterson took the lead in suggesting that funds in that newest sales tax — LEST II — be used in 2014 to save some support staff from cuts.

Previously, services provided by the support staff that are not directly tied to public safety had been proposed to be cut.

In looking at the proposals, however, Arnott and Patterson were concerned that the cuts would indeed impede public safety.

The latest plan, officially approved Friday morning by the county commission, moves an accounting specialist, two information systems employees, one purchasing buyer and one building operations employee to LEST II.

That total cost to LEST II in 2014 will be $424,500.

But those moves don’t come without repercussions, officials acknowledged.

“This isn’t a pile of money that’s been found,” Smith insisted.

The money in LEST II allocated for 2014 for the support personnel had previously been planned for future building modifications at the jail. One of the promises made to voters in asking for the LEST II was to renovate what are currently offices in the county jail to make room for about 75 more jail beds.

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Now that project will have to wait a few more years.

In the interim, though, county officials think they can downsize the medical wing, move it and make room for about 40 more beds.

The sheriff hopes to pay for those renovations out of the commissary fund. That’s the money that comes from inmates buying items in the jail.

“If there’s any sweet justice there, it’s being funded by the people who use the facilities,” Smith said.

By moving those support positions from the general revenue fund to LEST II, the county freed up money for other priorities. Department heads who suggested self-imposed pay cuts had their salaries restored.

The exception is Smith.

A few departments, like purchasing, the Public Administrator’s Office and Human Resources had one or two positions restored.

But the cuts will still be felt in the county.

“Things aren’t like they used to be,” said Commissioner Harold Bengsch. “People are going to notice.”

There will be no zoning or code enforcement in rural county areas. Still no animal control services as well.

While Viebrock was relieved that 2014 appears to be difficult but manageable, he warned against thinking the county’s money issues have been solved.